Weighted ground covering assembly

ABSTRACT

A weighted covering assembly including a flexible cover configured with channels adapted to receive and hold weighted members is provided. The covering assembly may be used a ground covering (e.g., as a beach towel, picnic blanket, etc.) upon which one or more persons may sit or lay. The channels and associated weighted members may be configured along one or more sides of the covering to add weight to the covering and to prevent the covering from being shifted or otherwise moved by external forces such as wind, users of the covering, or other forces. The weighted members also may include padding to be used as a pillow.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to towels and blankets, including towels andblankets with weight assemblies and pads.

BACKGROUND

Relaxing on a beach towel at the beach or enjoying a picnic with friendson a picnic blanket at the park are common activities enjoyed bymillions of people throughout the world.

However, oftentimes during such activities, the environment may includewind that may blow or otherwise shift the beach towel or picnic blanketto one side or another thereby causing disruption and even spillingbeverages and/or other items.

Accordingly, there is a need for a ground covering that includes one ormore weights to prevent such movements caused by wind or other externalforces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a weighted ground covering assembly accordingto exemplary embodiments hereof;

FIGS. 2A and 2B show side views of a ground covering according toexemplary embodiments hereof;

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C show aspects of a weighted member according toexemplary embodiments hereof;

FIGS. 4A and 4B show aspects of a foldable weighted member according toexemplary embodiments hereof;

FIGS. 5A and 5B show aspects of a weighted ground covering assemblyaccording to exemplary embodiments hereof;

FIG. 6 shows aspects of a weighted ground covering assembly according toexemplary embodiments hereof;

FIG. 7 shows aspects of a weighted ground covering assembly according toexemplary embodiments hereof; and

FIGS. 8, 9, 10A and 10B show aspects of a foldable weighted groundcovering assembly according to exemplary embodiments hereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In general, the ground covering assembly according to exemplaryembodiments hereof includes a covering (such as, without limitation, atowel or picnic blanket) configured with a weighted assembly and/or apadding assembly. The covering is designed to be laid out onto theground (e.g., at the beach or park) and the weighted assembly isconfigured to hold the covering in place (e.g., against wind or othertypes of movement forces). In some embodiments, the weighted assemblymay include padding to provide comfortable for a person resting on orotherwise using of the covering (e.g., a pillow).

It is understood that the example described above is meant fordemonstration and that the exercise assembly may be used in other waysas described herein or otherwise.

In one exemplary embodiment hereof, as shown in FIG. 1, the coveringassembly 10 includes a covering 100 and a weight assembly 200. Ingeneral, the covering 100 is formed to be used as a ground covering(such as, without limitation, a beach towel) and the weight assembly 200is adapted to provide weight to the covering 100 and to hold it in placeagainst wind and other forces.

Note that the elements 100, 200 are depicted as basic shapes for easyunderstanding and to represent the general configuration of the elements100, 200 with respect to one another. However, it is understood that therepresentations do not necessarily represent the size, shape or form ofthe elements 100, 200, nor the proportional sizes of the elements 100,200 with respect to one another. These details will be described inother sections. The covering assembly 10 also may include othercomponents and elements as necessary for the assembly 10 to perform itsfunctionalities.

Covering 100

In one exemplary embodiment hereof as shown in FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B, thecovering 100 includes a body 102 with a front surface 104 and a backsurface 106. The body 102 also may include a left side 108 (alsoreferred to as a left edge 108), a right side 110 (also referred to as aright edge 110), a top side 112 (also referred to as a top edge 112),and a bottom side 114 (also referred to as a bottom edge 114). As shownin the embodiment of FIG. 1, the left side 108 is adjacent to the topside 112 with the left side 108 and top side 112 meeting at point P₁.The left side 108 also is adjacent to the bottom side 114 with the leftside 108 and bottom side 114 meeting at point P₄. The right side 110 isadjacent to the top side 112 with the right side 110 and top side 112meeting at point P₂. The right side 110 also is adjacent to the bottomside 114 with the right side 110 and bottom side 114 meeting at pointP₃.

Note that FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B depict the covering 100 as generally laidout on a surface 12 (e.g., the ground) as it would be during use.

In some embodiments, when in use, the front surface 104 may extendlinearly from the left side 108 to the right side 110, and from the topside 112 to the bottom side 114. In this way, the front surface 104 maybe generally flat across its surface area.

While the front surface 104 of the body 102 is shown as generallyrectangular in FIG. 1, it is understood that the front surface 104 maybe of any shape or form, or any combinations of shapes or forms. Forexample, the front surface 104 may be square, circular, oval shaped,octagonal, trapezoidal, triangular, other shapes and any combinationsthereof.

In some embodiments, the body 102 may comprise a flexible material(e.g., a fabric) such as woven or knitted cotton (e.g., terry cloth),cotton-polyester blends, a nylon or plastic sheet or tarp, other typesof materials and any combinations thereof. It is understood that thescope of the covering 10 is not limited in any way by the material(s)that it may comprise.

In some embodiments, the body 102 includes one or more channels 116-1,116-2, . . . 116-n (collectively and individually 116). For example, insome embodiments, the body 102 includes a first channel 116-1 generallypositioned at its top side 112 and a second channel 116-2 generallypositioned at its bottom side 114. In some embodiments, the channels 116may generally extend continuously from one side of the body 102 (e.g.,the left side 112) to an opposite side of the body 102 (e.g., the rightside 114). The channels 116 may preferably extend side-to-sideunobstructed so that elements of the weight assembly 200 may bepositioned within the channels 116 as will be described in othersections.

For the purposes of this specification, each channel 116 will generallyinclude a length L_(C) and a width W_(C), (best seen in FIG. 1), and aheight H_(C) (when closed) (best seen in FIG. 2A). In some embodiments,the length L_(C) may be generally longer than the width W_(C).

In some embodiments, the first channel 116-1's length L_(C) extends thefull distance between the left side 108 and the right side 110. In otherembodiments, the first channel 116-1's length extends 95%, 90%, 85%,80%, 75%, 70%, 65%, 60%, 55%, 50%, and/or other percentages the distancebetween the left side 108 and the right side 110. In the cases where thelength L_(C) of the first channel 116-1 extends less than 100% thedistance between the left side 108 and the right side 110, the ends ofthe channel 116-1 may be inset from the left side 108 and/or right side110 as necessary.

In some embodiments, the second channel 116-2's length L_(C) extends thefull distance between the left side 108 and the right side 110. In otherembodiments, the second channel 116-2's length extends 95%, 90%, 85%,80%, 75%, 70%, 65%, 60%, 55%, 50%, and/or other percentages the distancebetween the left side 108 and the right side 110. In the cases where thelength L_(C) of the first channel 116-2 extends less than 100% thedistance between the left side 108 and the right side 110, the ends ofthe channel 116-2 may be inset from the left side 108 and/or right side110 as necessary.

The channels 116 may be formed in a variety of ways. In someembodiments, the channels 116 may be formed by folding a portion of thebody 102 over itself along one or more edges (e.g., at the top side 112and/or the bottom side 114) to form a channel 116 therebetween. In otherembodiments, the channels 116 may be formed separately by (i) folding apiece of fabric over itself, (ii) forming a cylinder of material, or(ii) by any other method and any combinations thereof. Once formed, thechannel 116 may be attached to one or more sides of the body 102 (e.g.,to the top side 112 and/or the bottom side 114). The channels 116 maycomprise the same material(s) as the body 102, different materials thanthe body 102, or any combination thereof. In any event, it is understoodthat the channels 116 may be formed using any technique that may resultin channels 116 that may be used for the purposes as described herein.

In some embodiments, the channels 116 may include attachment mechanism118 that may facilitate the opening and closing of the channels 116. Inthis way, a channel 116 may be opened and elements of the weightassembly 200 may be inserted and/or removed from the channels 116 asdesired.

For example, in some embodiments, an attachment mechanism 118 may extendalong the length L_(C) (or one or more portions thereof) of a channel116 (e.g., from the left side 108 to the right side 110) and whenundone, may generally open at least a portion of the channel 116 fromoutside the channel 116 to inside the channel 116. FIG. 1 depicts anattachment mechanism 118 extending along the length L_(C) of the top andbottom channels 116-1, 116-2 and positioned at the respective innerseams forming the channels 116-1, 116-2 (e.g., the inner seams being thejunction between the channels 116-1, 116-2 and the main body of thecovering 100). Note however that an attachment mechanism 118 may bepositioned to extend along the uppermost and/or lowermost edges of thechannels 116-1, 116-2, respectively (that is, at the very top and/orvery bottom of the covering as depicted in FIG. 1), and/or at anypositioned between the uppermost/lowermost edges and inner seams,respectively.

In use, an attachment mechanism 118 may be opened, an element of theweight assembly 200 may be inserted into the channel 116, and thechannel 116 may subsequently be closed to secure the weighted elementtherein. This will be described in detail in other sections.

In some embodiments, the attachment mechanisms 118 may include hook andloop material, zipper(s), buttons, snaps, hooks, latches, magnets, othertypes of attachment mechanisms and any combinations thereof. It isunderstood that one or more attachment mechanisms 118 may be used with achannel 116 and depending on the type of attachment mechanisms 118 used,the positions of the attachment mechanisms 118 may be chosenaccordingly. For example, a zipper may extend continuously from the leftside 108 to the right side 110 (or any portions thereof), while sectionsof hook and loop material, buttons or snaps may be positioned atperiodic locations between the left side 108 and right side 110 asnecessary to adequately secure the channels 116-1, 116-2 closed whendesired.

FIG. 2A shows the body 102 taken from the perspective of cut-lines A-Ain FIG. 1 and depicts the attachment mechanisms 118 closed therebyclosing the first and second channels 116-1, 116-2. FIG. 2B depicts theattachment mechanisms 118 opened thereby opening the first and secondchannels 116-1, 116-2.

In some embodiments as shown in FIG. 1, attachment mechanisms 118 alsomay be located at the left 108 and/or right 110 sides of the channels116-1, 116-2 and may be used to open and close the left 108 and/or right110 sides of the channels 116-1, 116-2 accordingly. When opened, anelement of the weight assembly 200 may be placed into the channels116-1, 116-2 from the sides 108, 110. This will be described in detailin other sections. It is understood that all of the aspects of theattachment mechanisms 118 describe above with respect to the attachmentmechanisms 118 extending along the length L_(C) of the channels 116-1,116-2 also may be applied to the attachment mechanisms 118 extendingalong the widths W_(e) of the channels 116-1, 116-2.

Weight Assembly 200

In some embodiments as shown in FIG. 1, the weight assembly 200 includeone or more weighted members 202. In some embodiments, one or moreweighted members 202 are inserted into one or more channels 116 andsecured therein (e.g., by using the attachment mechanisms 118 to closethe channels 116). In this way, the weighted members 202 may add weightto the channels 116, and thereby to the top and bottom sides 114, 116,respectively, of the body 102 of the covering 100.

In some embodiments as shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the weighted member 202 maybe generally formed as a rectangular cuboid. However, the weightedmember 202 also may be formed as other shapes or forms such as acylinder (with a circular or oval-shaped cross-section), other shapes,and any combinations thereof. FIG. 3A shows a schematic of a weightedmember 202, FIG. 3B shows a top view of the weighted member 202, andFIG. 3C shows a side view (taken along cut-lines B-B of FIG. 3B) of theweighted member 202. As shown, a weighted member 202 may include alength L_(W), a width W_(W) and a height H_(W). It is understood thatthe weighted member 202 may be formed as any shape or form as requiredfor the member 202 to perform its functionalities. For example, if achannel 116 is formed as a particular form (e.g., other than arectangular cuboid such as a cylinder), the member 202 also may beformed as the particular shape (e.g., a cylinder) so as to fit withinthe channel 116 as described herein.

In some embodiments, the shape, form, and dimensions of the weightedmember 202 is chosen to generally match the shape, form, and dimensionsof the inner volume of an associated channel 116. For example, thelength L_(W) of the weighted member 202 may generally match (or beslightly less than) than the length L_(C) of an associated channel 116,the width W_(W) of the member 202 may generally match (or be slightlyless than) the width W_(e) of an associated channel 116, and the heightH_(W) of the member 202 may generally match (or be slightly less than)the height H_(C) of an associated channel 116. In this way, a weightedmember 202 may be inserted into an associated channel 116 and may fittherein. It is preferable that a weighted member 202 fit generally snugwithin an associated channel 116 so that once secured within the channel116, the member 202 may be generally held secure within the channel 116by pressure fit (when the channel 116 is closed using an attachmentmechanism 118). However, this may not be necessary.

In some embodiments, the weighted members 202 may comprise anymaterial(s) of adequate weight to enable the weighted assembly 200 toperform its desired functionalities. For example, a weighted member 202may comprise a hollow shell (such as a fabric or plastic) filled with aweighted material such as gel, beads, sand, foam (e.g., memory foam),pellets, other types of materials and any combinations thereof. Inanother example, a weighted member 202 may comprise one or more sectionsof material such as one or more sections of memory foam, one or moresections of rubber, one or more sections of other types of materials andany combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, a weight member 202 may include a single portion oflength L_(W), width W_(W), and height H_(W) (as shown in FIG. 3A-3C). Inother embodiments, a weighted member 202 may include two or moreportions that when combined may form a member of length L_(W), widthW_(W), and height H_(W).

In some embodiments, a weight member 202 may include one or more foldingseams 204 or other types of junctions that may separate the member 202into two or more foldable portions. For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, aweighted member 202 may include a shell filled with beads or sand (orany other suitable material(s)), and the shell may include a foldingseam 204 at its midpoint of its length L_(C) that may separate the shellinto two compartments. The seam 204 may act as a hinge or folding lineallowing the member 202 to be folded in half (or in other portionsdepending on number and locations of the seams) as shown by the arrow Cand the resulting configuration shown in FIG. 4B. This may enable theweighted member 202 to be folded into a compact configuration forstorage (by itself or in combination with the body 102 of the covering100) as will be described in other sections.

In some embodiments, each weight member 202 is similar or identical toeach other weight member 202. In other embodiments, one or more weightmembers 202 may be different in shape, size, and form compared to one ormore other weight members 202.

In some embodiments, one or more channels 116 at the top side 112 and/orthe bottom side 114 are formed larger than one or more other channels116 so that a larger weighted member 202 may be placed into at least oneof the larger channels 116. In this embodiment, the weighted member 202may preferably be a padded member such as a member comprising memoryfoam. In this way, the larger and padded weighted member 202 may be usedas a pillow by the user of the covering assembly 10.

Covering Assembly 10

In some embodiments as shown in FIGS. 1, 4A and 4B, the coveringassembly 10 includes one or more weighted members 202 configured withinone or more channels 116 of a covering body 102. FIGS. 4A and 4B aretaken from the perspective of cutlines A-A in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A shows the left side 108 and the right side 110 attachmentmechanisms 118 open and with a weighted member 202 inserted into eachrespective channel 116. FIG. 4b shows the left side 114 and the rightside 110 attachment mechanisms 118 closed thereby securing the weightedmembers 202 within each associated channel 116, respectively.

In some embodiments as shown in FIG. 6, the covering assembly 10 mayinclude additional channels 116 (e.g., channel 116-3) configured withthe body 102 in additional locations. For example, as shown in FIG. 6,the body 102 may include a third channel 116-3 at an intermediarylocation between the top side 114 and the bottom side 116 and extendingfrom the left side 108 to the right side 110.

In another example, FIG. 7 shows a body 102 configured with channels 116located on its left side 108 and right side 110 and extending from thetop side 114 to the bottom side 116.

It is understood that these examples are meant for demonstration andthat the body 102 may be configured with any number of channels 116 andthat the channels 116 may be located in any position and/or orientationwith respect to the body 102 as desired. For example, the body 102 maybe configured with channels 116 that extend diagonally across the body102, that extend about the perimeter of the body 102, or any otherchannels 116 that may be located and/or oriented in any way with respectto the body 102 and to other channels 116.

In Use

In some embodiments, the covering assembly 10 is used by following atleast some of the following acts (without limitation):

-   -   1. First, the covering 102 may be placed on the ground and laid        out flat;    -   2. Next, each attachment mechanism 118 associated with each        channel 116 may be opened to open at least a portion of each        respective channel 116. The attachment mechanism 118 may include        an attachment mechanism 118 the extends along the length L_(C)        of the channels 116, an attachment mechanism 118 that extends        along the width W_(e) of the channels 116, any other attachment        mechanism 118 configured in any other way with an associated        channel 116, and any combination thereof.    -   3. One or more weighted members 202 are next inserted into one        or more associated open channels 116 (e.g., through the        associated open attachment mechanism 118) so that each weighted        member 202 may fit and be held within the respective channels        116 (preferably fitting entirely within each respective        channel).    -   4. Each associated attachment mechanism 118 may be closed        thereby closing each associated channel 116 and securing each        weighted member 202 within its respective channel 116.    -   5. With the covering 10 configured with one or more weighted        members 202 within corresponding one or more channels 116, the        covering may include adequate weight that may prevent the        covering 10 from being inadvertently shifted or otherwise moved        by external forces such as wind, users, and other forces.    -   6. To disassemble the covering assembly 10, the acts described        above may be performed in reverse order.

In some embodiments as shown in FIG. 7, additional acts may be taken toconfigure a fully laid out and configured covering assembly 10 into acompact configuration for easy carrying and/or storage. These acts mayinclude the following (without limitation):

-   -   1. To prepare a laid out and fully configured covering assembly        10 into a compact configuration for easy carrying and/or        storage, a portion of the laid out assembly 10 (including        weighted members 202 with midpoint folding seams 204) may be        folded over itself to generally fold the covering 10 in half.        For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the right side may be folded        over the left side 108 in the direction of the arrows D. This        may result in the covering 10 folded in half as shown in FIG. 8.    -   2. Next, the folded covering 10 may be rolled from the top side        114 (or the bottom side 116) as shown by the arrow E. This may        result in the rolled-up covering assembly 10 as shown in FIG.        9A.    -   3. The compact covering assembly 10 may then be placed into a        carrying bag 14 (e.g., a mesh drawstring bag) or other type of        case as shown in FIG. 9B.

It is understood that the example described above is meant fordemonstration and that other methods may be used to compactly configurethe covering assembly 10. In one example, the weighted members 202 maynot include folding seams 204 so that the covering assembly 10 may notbe folded in half prior to rolling up the assembly 10. In anotherexample, the weighted members 202 may in include more than one foldingseam 204 so that the assembly 10 may be folded over into third, fourths,or other fractional amounts. In other examples, the assembly 10 may befolded over without the use of folding seams 204. In any event, it isunderstood that the assembly 10 may be folded and/or rolled up into acompact configuration to be stored within a carrying bag 14 or othertype of holder.

In some embodiments, the length of the covering assembly 10 from the topside 112 to the bottom side 114 is about 6′-8′ and preferably about 7′,and the width of the covering assembly 10 from the left side 108 to theright side 110 is about 3′-5′ and preferably about 4′.

In some embodiments, the weight of each weighted member 202 is about 2lbs-6 lbs and preferably about 4 lbs.

It is understood that any aspect and/or element of any embodiment of theassembly 10 described herein or otherwise may be combined in any way toform additional embodiments of the assembly 10 all of which are withinthe scope of the assembly 10.

Where a process is described herein, those of ordinary skill in the artwill appreciate that the process may operate without any userintervention. In another embodiment, the process includes some humanintervention (e.g., a step is performed by or with the assistance of ahuman).

As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “at least some”means “one or more,” and includes the case of only one. Thus, e.g., thephrase “at least some ABCs” means “one or more ABCs”, and includes thecase of only one ABC.

As used herein, including in the claims, term “at least one” should beunderstood as meaning “one or more”, and therefore includes bothembodiments that include one or multiple components. Furthermore,dependent claims that refer to independent claims that describe featureswith “at least one” have the same meaning, both when the feature isreferred to as “the” and “the at least one”.

As used in this description, the term “portion” means some or all. So,for example, “A portion of X” may include some of “X” or all of “X”. Inthe context of a conversation, the term “portion” means some or all ofthe conversation.

As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “using” means “usingat least,” and is not exclusive. Thus, e.g., the phrase “using X” means“using at least X.” Unless specifically stated by use of the word“only”, the phrase “using X” does not mean “using only X.”

As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “based on” means“based in part on” or “based, at least in part, on,” and is notexclusive. Thus, e.g., the phrase “based on factor X” means “based inpart on factor X” or “based, at least in part, on factor X.” Unlessspecifically stated by use of the word “only”, the phrase “based on X”does not mean “based only on X.”

In general, as used herein, including in the claims, unless the word“only” is specifically used in a phrase, it should not be read into thatphrase.

As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “distinct” means “atleast partially distinct.” Unless specifically stated, distinct does notmean fully distinct. Thus, e.g., the phrase, “X is distinct from Y”means that “X is at least partially distinct from Y,” and does not meanthat “X is fully distinct from Y.” Thus, as used herein, including inthe claims, the phrase “X is distinct from Y” means that X differs fromY in at least some way.

It should be appreciated that the words “first,” “second,” and so on, inthe description and claims, are used to distinguish or identify, and notto show a serial or numerical limitation. Similarly, letter labels(e.g., “(A)”, “(B)”, “(C)”, and so on, or “(a)”, “(b)”, and so on)and/or numbers (e.g., “(i)”, “(ii)”, and so on) are used to assist inreadability and to help distinguish and/or identify, and are notintended to be otherwise limiting or to impose or imply any serial ornumerical limitations or orderings. Similarly, words such as“particular,” “specific,” “certain,” and “given,” in the description andclaims, if used, are to distinguish or identify, and are not intended tobe otherwise limiting.

As used herein, including in the claims, the terms “multiple” and“plurality” mean “two or more,” and include the case of “two.” Thus,e.g., the phrase “multiple ABCs,” means “two or more ABCs,” and includes“two ABCs.” Similarly, e.g., the phrase “multiple PQRs,” means “two ormore PQRs,” and includes “two PQRs.”

The present invention also covers the exact terms, features, values andranges, etc. in case these terms, features, values and ranges etc. areused in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally,substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e., “about 3” or“approximately 3” shall also cover exactly 3 or “substantially constant”shall also cover exactly constant).

As used herein, including in the claims, singular forms of terms are tobe construed as also including the plural form and vice versa, unlessthe context indicates otherwise. Thus, it should be noted that as usedherein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include pluralreferences unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Throughout the description and claims, the terms “comprise”,“including”, “having”, and “contain” and their variations should beunderstood as meaning “including but not limited to”, and are notintended to exclude other components unless specifically so stated.

It will be appreciated that variations to the embodiments of theinvention can be made while still falling within the scope of theinvention. Alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similarpurpose can replace features disclosed in the specification, unlessstated otherwise. Thus, unless stated otherwise, each feature disclosedrepresents one example of a generic series of equivalent or similarfeatures.

The present invention also covers the exact terms, features, values andranges, etc. in case these terms, features, values and ranges etc. areused in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally,substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e., “about 3” shall alsocover exactly 3 or “substantially constant” shall also cover exactlyconstant).

Use of exemplary language, such as “for instance”, “such as”, “forexample” (“e.g.,”) and the like, is merely intended to better illustratethe invention and does not indicate a limitation on the scope of theinvention unless specifically so claimed.

While the invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments,it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thedisclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

1. A ground covering assembly comprising: a flexible ground coverincluding a left side, a right side, an upper side and a lower side, theupper side extending between the left side and the right side, and thelower side located opposite the upper side and extending between theleft side and the right side; a first channel configured with the upperside and extending at least partially between the left side and theright side; a second channel configured with lower side and extending atleast partially between the left side and the right side; a firstattachment mechanism configured with the first channel and adapted toopen and/or close at least a portion of the first channel at a locationbetween the left side and the right side; a second attachment mechanismconfigured with the second channel and adapted to open and/or close atleast a portion of the second channel at a location between the leftside and the right side; a first weighted member adapted to be receivedand secured within the first channel and configured to extend at leastpartially from the left side to the right side, and a second weightedmember adapted to be received and secured within the second channel andconfigured to extend at least partially from the left side to the rightside.
 2. The ground covering assembly of claim 1 wherein the firstchannel and the second channel each extend from the left side to theright side.
 3. The ground covering assembly of claim 1 wherein the firstweighted member and the second weighted member each extend from the leftside to the right side.
 4. The ground covering assembly of claim 1wherein the first attachment mechanism is adapted to open and/or close aportion of the first channel that extends from the left side to theright side.
 5. The ground covering assembly of claim 1 wherein thesecond attachment mechanism is adapted to open and/or close a portion ofthe second channel that extends from the left side to the right side. 6.The ground covering assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and/or secondweighted member comprises foam.
 7. The ground covering assembly of claim1 wherein the first and/or second weighted member comprises a shellfilled with at least one of the following: gel, beads, sand, foam, andpellets.
 8. The ground covering assembly of claim 1 wherein the firstand/or second weighted member comprises a rectangular cuboid or acylinder.
 9. The ground covering assembly of claim 1 wherein the firstand/or second attachment mechanism comprises at least one of thefollowing: a zipper, hook and loop material, a button, a snap and alatch.
 10. The ground covering assembly of claim 1 wherein the firstweighted member includes a first folding seam enabling the firstweighted member to be folded in half at the first folding seam.
 11. Theground covering assembly of claim 1 wherein the second weighted memberincludes a second folding seam enabling the second weighted member to befolded in half at the second folding seam.
 12. The ground coveringassembly of claim 1 wherein the flexible ground cover is rectangular inshape.
 13. The ground covering assembly of claim 1 wherein the flexibleground cover comprises at least one of the following: cotton, polyester,cotton-polyester blend, nylon, and plastic.
 14. The ground coveringassembly of claim 1 further comprising a carrying case adapted toreceive the flexible ground cover and the first and second weightedmembers.
 15. The ground covering assembly of claim 14 wherein thecarrying case is adapted to receive the flexible ground cover and thefirst and second weighted members with the first and second weightedmembers each folded in half at the first and second folding seams,respectively.
 16. The ground covering assembly of claim 15 wherein thefirst weighted member includes a first length, and the carrying caseincludes a height equal to half the weighted member's first length.